DRAGON BALL XENOVERSE 2

DRAGON BALL XENOVERSE 2 works best for exercise during its fights, where you can lock on and dish out combos without needing mouse aim. The story errands and conversations in Conton City keep stopping the action, so expect a workout with some pauses built in.

Gameplay

You make a custom fighter and head to Conton City, a busy hub where the Time Patrol sends you to fix changes to Dragon Ball history. You can choose from several character types, including Saiyans, Earthlings, Namekians, Majins, and Frieza race fighters. Each has different strengths, and you can build your character around melee attacks, ki blasts, or a mix of both. You also get to change your outfit, learn new skills, and set up different attack loadouts.

Most of the action takes place in arena battles. You fly around the map, lock on to enemies, and string together close range attacks, ki blasts, and special moves. Stamina and ki management add a bit of strategy. Spend too much stamina and you may be left unable to evade, while burning all your ki means no big attacks for a while. Fights can get busy, especially when several enemies and allies are on screen, but the basic rhythm is easy to pick up.

The main story has you correcting familiar events after villains interfere with them. It gives you a reason to keep moving through missions, though there are plenty of dialogue scenes and briefings between battles. Parallel Quests offer another way to play. These missions revisit Dragon Ball fights and sometimes change how they play out, which suits the game’s alternate history setup. You can also train with characters to learn their moves, tackle optional activities, and play online with other people.

There is a lot here to do, but the pace is uneven. A mission can be a lively string of fights, followed by time spent talking to characters, checking menus, or flying around the hub to find the next task. The customization and steady stream of unlocks give you a good reason to keep going. Still, if you want nonstop action to carry you through a workout, the gaps between battles may get on your nerves.

Category Score: 2 out of 3

Treadmill and Bike Compatibility

The game has full controller support, and the basic controls work well from a treadmill or bike. Lock on makes it easier to keep track of a target, and you do not need precise aiming. Once you know the buttons, a lot of fights come down to moving, attacking, blocking, and choosing when to use a special move. That is a manageable routine for steady pedaling or an easy walking pace.

There are limits. Some fights call for quick dodges, careful timing, and attention to stamina, especially when a strong enemy is pushing you around. Getting caught in a combo can cost you a big chunk of health, and button mashing is not always enough to get out of trouble. The game also asks you to navigate menus and talk to characters between missions, which is awkward if you are trying to keep your eyes on the workout.

I would pick a stationary bike or a comfortable walking pace over a hard run for this one. That gives you a better chance to react during fights and deal with the occasional menu break without fumbling. Online play adds more action, but competing with other players while exercising is a less forgiving setup than taking on the game’s missions at your own pace.

Category Score: 2 out of 3

Computer Requirements

The minimum requirements are a 64 bit processor and Windows 10, with an Intel Core i5 3570 or AMD Ryzen 5 1600, 4 GB of RAM, and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1030 or AMD Radeon HD 7770. It also requires DirectX 11 and a broadband internet connection.

Those graphics cards are not the sort of hardware that demands a top end gaming PC, and 4 GB of RAM is a modest minimum. But the listed graphics options are dedicated cards, so I would not count on a basic integrated graphics setup meeting the requirement. A reasonably capable, fairly ordinary dedicated graphics card should be enough by the standards of this rubric.

Category Score: 2 out of 3

Conclusion and Score

DRAGON BALL XENOVERSE 2 has a fun combat loop, a pile of character customization, and plenty of missions to work through. It is a decent choice for a bike session or an easy treadmill workout, especially if you enjoy Dragon Ball and want a game that gives you regular fights to focus on. Just expect stretches of hub errands and dialogue between those fights, plus some battles that ask for more attention than casual button mashing can provide.

Overall Score: 2 out of 3